Property Record
235 WEST AVE, S
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | William W. Cargill House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 35337 |
| Location (Address): | 235 WEST AVE, S |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
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| Year Built: | 1881 |
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| Additions: | 1906 |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stucco |
| Architect: | Hugh Garden |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 1976 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Property was listed on NRHP on 5/1/74, then delisted after demolition. Replaced by a parking lot. The original 1881 house was heavily remodeled in 1906 and was the home of William Cargill, a major local commercial and philanthropic personality. The first Cargill House of 1882 was never elegant, just big and costly. A little more than twenty years later it was completely rebuilt. In 1905, of the house was transformed into a Baroque period Italian Palazzo. It was likely the most expensive house ever built in La Crosse. In 1907 the estimated cost was $200,000, about $4,546,253 in today's money. In December of 1907, the Cargills' garage burned, destroying their automobiles. It was rebuilt as a grand carriage house, even though the age of carriages was now over. The Cargills did not enjoy their house very long. William Cargill died in 1909. Ellen soon followed in March 1910. The Cargill children were grown and gone, so the house sat empty for almost 20 years. In January of 1927, John, Edna, and Austen Cargill gave the home to the First Presbyterian Church and it was used for offices and classrooms and became a popular spot for weddings. After various efforts to reuse the building, it was demolished in 1976. |
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| Bibliographic References: | LaCrosse Tribune 4/4/1998. Crocker, Leslie. La Crosse Buildings through Time. La Crosse: La Crosse Public Library Archives Department, 2015. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |